Odometer

Almost all vehicles have a device called an odometer that is used to accurately gauge the vehicle’s distance that has been traveled. Cars, trucks, SUVs, off-road vehicles, bicycles motorcycles and many other types of vehicles all use an odometer. Odometers can be mechanical, electrical or both mechanical and electrical depending on the manufacture and the model of vehicle. Not all countries use the same measuring system and most countries will have odometers that give numbers in kilometers. However, in the United States, odometers give readings in miles instead of kilometers. All vehicles on the road are required to have an odometer.

In fact, in order to register a vehicle with DMV, an accurate reading from the odometer is needed. The miles in which a vehicle will travel will need to be monitored for a wide variety of reasons. One of those reasons has to do with the life of the engine. Engines don’t last forever and an odometer gives insight to how much the vehicle has been driving. Vehicles with high miles on the odometer will not be worth as much as vehicles with low miles on the odometer. In fact, the reading on the odometer plays a key role with the value of any vehicle.

Even Kelly Blue Book values are focused around the odometer reading as well. Another reason why the odometer is important is the fact that components of a vehicle will need maintenance after they have been used for a certain period of time. The odometer will accurately tell the owner of the vehicle when an oil change is needed, or when tires need to be checked thoroughly. For example, all vehicles will come with a manual that dictates to the owner when to change the oil. The time frame in which vehicles will need their oil change will vary from one vehicle to another. This time frame is measured with how many miles the odometer reads.

If the oil needs to be changed every 6,000 miles, the owner of the vehicle will be able to accurately tell when an oil change is needed by looking at the odometer. Other engine components break down over time, and some components can be predicted when they are worn out and ready to be replaced. For example, many vehicles with timing belts will need the timing belt replaced after so many miles have been driven. Vehicles with timing belts will typically need the belt replaced after 60,000 miles.

Odometers are not just used for accurately value the vehicle or replace parts and change the oil. They are also used for income purposes as well. Many commercial trucking companies will pay their employees by the miles in which they travel. Truckers who travel more miles will be paid a higher salary than truckers who travel less miles. Truckers also use the odometer to record all driving history in a log that is required by law and the company they work for. The odometer is so important for a wide variety of reasons that it is against the law to tamper with the reading of the odometer.

Replacement odometers are available online and in many auto parts stores. Higher performance gauges with LED lights, and other custom designs will house the odometer. Odometers that are digital will operate differently than odometers that are mechanical. However, both digital and mechanical odometers give accurate readings with the amount of miles in which a vehicle has. Odometers are also used to give a car insurance company an accurate amount of miles that are traveled every year. The more miles the driver travels, the more of a risk the insurance company will consider the driver.